About Me

Do you know what it takes to keep your home heating system working efficiently? Most people know that the filters need to be changed from time to time, but exactly when should you be changing them? What type of filter should you be using? Is there anything else that homeowners can do to ensure that the system they rely on to heat and cool their homes operates using as little energy as possible? My blog will show you all sorts of things about maintaining your home heating and cooling system. In the end, you will know just what to do to take care of your home's system.

Archive

Search

Why You Shouldn't Try To Install Your Own Thermostat

When your home has an aging, damaged, or poorly calibrated thermostat controlling the central heating and cooling system, you will pay more monthly for your energy bills and experience less comfort year round. Both your air conditioning and heating equipment will experience similar issues when the cause lies within the thermostat on the wall. You may be tempted to pick up a thermostat at the local hardware store and attempt a DIY installation to save a little money. These four reasons will convince you to choose professional installation from a heating or cooling professional instead.

Electrical Risks

Most of today's modern thermostats require direct wiring with a specific configuration of the power supply and ground wires. Yet many homes also lack the common wire that is best used to supply electricity to a thermostat, or at least don't have it run to the location where you'd like to install a thermostat. The risks of getting a serious electrical shock are relatively low, but incorrect wiring can start a fire or at least lead to poor performance from your air conditioning and heating equipment.

Complex Wiring

Each thermostat has its own wiring requirements, and every home can follow one of the dozens of different wiring configurations based on when it was built and where it is located. Unless you're relatively experienced with residential electrical repairs and maintenance, you shouldn't try to alter your wiring or install hard-wired equipment like a thermostat. Leave it to the professionals, or you could accidentally violate an obscure building code and face consequences later when selling your home.

Smart Calibration

Smart thermostats that connect to your mobile devices and program themselves around your usage patterns are particularly prone to errors or malfunctions when installed by the homeowner. Professional installation may even be stipulated by the warranty, resulting in a lack of a refund if you accidentally damage the device while trying to install it. If you're going to spend hundreds of dollars on a more advanced thermostat, be prepared to spend just a little bit more for the correct installation process.

Zone Control

Finally, leaving your thermostat changes and replacements in the hands of a heating and cooling professional also allows you to take advantage of zone controls that can save you money. In this kind of system, your home is divided into zones separately controlled by one complex thermostat or numerous separate units. Trying to repair or replace any of the thermostats used by a zoned heating or cooling system can throw the entire system out of balance unless you're an experienced repair technician.